Motor controller



Sept. 9 ,1924.

M. HEMLEB MOTOR CONTROLLER Filed Oct. `25 1919 2 Sheets-Shoot l lkw Z- INYENTOR ,BY www ATTORNEY l Sept. 9 1924. 1,507,734

M. HEMLEB x MOTOR CONTROLLER Filed oct. 25. 1919 Y 2 shuts-shut 2 lNvENToR ATTORNEY a Patented. Sept. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES IATIN HmEB, 0F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB T0 THE SINGER KANU- FACII'URIIN'G- COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MOTOR CONTROLLER AApplication led October 25,` 1919. Serial No. 333,346.

To all/whom t may concern.:v

Be it known that I, MARTIN Hamam, a citizen of the United States, residin at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and tate of New Jersey, have invented certain new` and useful Improvements in Motor Controllers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to speed-controllers for small motors of the type commonly used for driving sewing machines and the like. It has for an object to provide a controller of thefoot-operated type which is adapted to be operated eitheron the ioo'r in connection within. portable sewing machine or on the usual ltreadle-plate of a sewing machine stand oir-cabin I A further object of the invention is to provide a foot-operated motor-speed-controller of compact, simplilied and sturdy construction which is unlikely to get out of order and the parts of which are readily accessible for replacement or repair. Further objects of the invention will appear from 'the following description and claims. j

In its preferred embodiment, the controller comprises a casing element and la base or supporting element with means for detachablyv securing them together. The casing element forms a housing for a circuit controlling element or rheostat which is detacbably mounted as a unit within said casing and includes a contactor which is operated by means of a pedal sustained by the casing and located at a level between the top and bottom of the latter thereby insuring compact-ness. The pedal, which is preferably made up in the form of a lever, is pirotally mounted at one end of the casing and at its free end is extended laterally to form a footieee located in front of the casing at one sldc of the latter and over an ex tension of the base which prevents tilting of I:alla entire device during depression of the pena lin a sewing machine stand or cabinet, the usual treadle-plate and cabinet supporting legs lill up the space within convenient reach of the operators foot andwhen such a cabinet is equipped with a motor driving attachment including a portable foot-controller of the type heretofore used, such controller must be placed at one side of the cabinet necessitating the assumption of an awkward and unnatural position by the operator in order that the controller may be reached by the foot. l

One form of construction of the present device possesses a feature of importance in that fastening means are provided for securing the casing to the base so constructed as to permit the casing to lbe readily rcmoved from the base and mounted without the use of additional fastening devices upon the usual treadle-plate of a sewing machine cabinet where it is within easy reach of the operators foot. The controller is thus particularly adapted for use with motor-driven sewing machines of either the portable or cabinet type. It is to be understood, however. that the feature of ready detachability of the casing and base is not essential to the invention in its broader aspects.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the controller with the side wall of the casing element removed. Fig. 2 is 'a horizontal section through the casing. Fig; 3 is a disassembled perspective view of the controller. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the controller as mounted on the usual tre'adle-plate of a sewing machine cabinet. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 is a section on the lline 6 6, Fig. 5.

In the particular embodiment of the invention chosen forthe purpose of the present disclosure, the controller comprises a base 1 having an elongated substantially rectangular body-portion from which extends the arm 2 at an angle to the bod portion. rThis base. preferably has a su stantially fiat upper surface 3 and has secured thereto the flat bottom wall l of the controller casing 5 including the dat side walls 6 and 6', the former being removably secured to the main body-portion of the casing by two screws 7 and being detachable without the necessity of separating the casing from the base.

The means for locating and fixing the 10, respectively. The nut l2 is in the form 110 of a disk which is out away to form the curved surfaces 1'6, 16 sha ed to grip the ribs of the usual treadle-p ate, as will be hereinafter explained. The casing 5 is also formed with a downwardly projecting stud-- in 17 which enters the aperture 18 in the ase 1.

Detachably mounted as a unitwithin the casing 5 is the circuit controlling element a, preferably in the form of the usual rheo stat including a porcelain base 19 carrying the usual resistance coils terminating in the contact-points 20. A eontactor-arm 21 is pivoted on the post 22 fixed to the base 19 and carries the contact spring 23 adapted to play over the contact-points 20. The coil spring 24 surrounding the enlarged base of the post 22 serves to yieldingly elevate the arm 21. and shift the contact spring to off position. l

The arm 21 is formed in its forward face with e longitudinal niet 25 Whieh is entered by the lateral pin 26 projecting inwardly from the inner face of the pedal-lever 27 at a point intermediate the ends.of said pedallever. Secured to one end of the lever 27 is the lateral fulcrum pin 28 which enters the apertured lug 29 formed on the casing 5. The outer face 'of the lever 27 is substantially flush with the seat for the cover-plate 6:-the front wall 30 of the casing being cut l away to provide stops L31 limiting the vertical movement of the pedal-lever. coil spring 32, surrounding the fulcrum-pm 28 and anchored at its opposite ends to the casing 5 of the lever 27, respectively, serves to' yieldingly elevate the lever 27 and assist in elevating` the arm 21. The lever 27 is provided with an extension 33 at its free end which is disposed in a horizontal position over the arm 2, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be notedthat the pedal 33 is located at a level between the topv and bottom of the casing 5, and at one side of the space between the planes of the walls 6', 6, giving a compact construction and one whichv is easily manipulated by the operator who may rest the heel upon the loor with the foot alongside the casing 5 and easily press the ball of the foot upon the extension-piece 33. The positioning of the lever 27 alongside the controller element 19 whereby the operative connection between the controller element and said lever may be made intermediate the ends of the latter are constructive features of importance in that they aiord a very compact and sturdy device which is easy to carry around with a portable sewing machine outlit and which will withstand the wear and tear oflong continued or harsh sewing machines such as are commonly pro-y asomar housed within the usual hand-carrying case.

If, however, it is desired to apply the controller to a sewing machine of the cabinet type, the usual sewing machine treadle'plate t aifords a convenient support which may be taken advantage of by so spacing the fastening devices such asthe stud 17 and screw 18 thatwhen the stud 17 is'locatedbetween and in contact with the adjacent` ribs 34. of the treadle-pl'ate, the curved surfaces 16 of the nut 12 are in position to tightly grip the similar 35. The rear `end of the controller preferably fits against the usual heel rest 36 of the-treadle-plate. The surfaces 16 of the nut 12 may, if desired, be roughened to cause them to more securely bite into and grip the ribs 35 of the treadleplate. Suitable rubber feet 37 are preferably provided for the base-plate.` 1. The control-wires `from the motor lead into the casing 5 through the insulating bushing 38.

The term base used herein is :not necessarily intended to distinguishk the element 1 from the treadle-plate t, as the latter also e constitutes a. base for the casing 5 when the controller is installed in a sewing machine stand. .Y Both of the plates land t are apertured for reception of the steadying means 8 and 17. It will be noted that the coverplate 6. may be readily removed without disturbing the assembled relation of the casing and base, whether the base is considered as the plate 1 .or treadle-plate t.

Having thus set `forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1. In a motor speed controller, in combination, a base'. a casing, a pedal-operated circuit controlling unit housed within said casing and means for detachably securing said casing to said base, said means being adapted for use in securing the casing to the treadle-plate of a sewing machine.

2. In a motor speed controller', in combination, a base, a casing having a substantially-liat bottom surface, a pedal-operated circuit controlling unit housed within said casing, and means for detachably securing said casing to said base, said means being adapted for use in securing the casing upon the upper surface of the treadle-plate of a sewing machine.

3. In a motor speed controller, in combination, a casing, a base adapted to rest upon the floor and carrying said casing, a circuit controlling unit including a shiftable contactor housed within said casing, a pedal lever movable toward and away from said base and pivoted at one end to said casing los independently of said circuit controlling m unit, and an operative connectionbetween said pedal and said shiftable contactor, said pedal lever being disposed below the level of the top of said-casing.

4. In a motor speed controller, in combination, a base, a casing, means including spaced elements for locating and -fixing said casing on said base, a circuit controlling element "housed Within said casing, and a pedal sustained by vsaid casing and operatively connected to said circuit controlling element, said spaced elements being. so shaped and located as to adapt the casing to be secured to the usual treadle-plate of a sewing machine.

5. In a motor speed controller, in combination, a base, a casing including a'removfable side cover-plate, means for detachably securing said casing to said base permitting removal of the cover-plate without disturbance ci? said means, a circuit controllingA A element housed within said casing, and a between the side walls ofthe casin depressible pedal for operating said controlling element, said pedal being mounted within said casing and including an angular extension constituting Va foot piece accessible exteriorly of said casing.

6. In a motor speed controller, .in combination, a basehaving a main body portion and an extension, acasing'of substantially rectangular cross section mounted on the main body portion of said base,.thedistance being less than the distance between its en walls, a circuitv controlling .element housed within said casing, and operating means sustained by said casing and including an arm ha.

a laterally extending foot-piece, dispose substantially over said extension of the base and at one side of the space between the planesof the said side walls of the casing.

.7. A controller comprising a supporting `-base element, a casing element on the base element, a circuit controlling unit mounted within said casing element and including a plurallty of reslstor-connected contact points disposed in a substantially vertical v plane anda contact lever-arm pivotally mounted on a substantially horizontal axis for movement over said contact points, a pedal leverarm pivotally connected to one of said elements for movement about a horizontal axis and extended to one side of the casing element below the top of the latter, and a studl rigid with one of said lever-arms and sustained substantially at the elevation of the other of said lever-arms and connected to the latter. 1

- 8. A motor controller having a casing and base adapted to rest upon the Hoor and having an extension laterally of saidv casing, a circuit controlling element housed withinsaid casing, an L-shaped lever having-'one of its arms pivoted to said casing, the other arm of said lever constituting afoot-piece extending laterally of the plane of the lever proper and disposed over said extension of the base, andy an operative connection between said lever and circuit controlling element. v

9. A motor controller comprising a casing' 4of substantially Yrectangular horizontal crpsssection with its' side walls spaced apart av lesser distance than its end walls, said casing having a base adapting it to rest upon the.. fioor with its said side walls in substantially vertical planes, said basehaving an extension laterally of the space between the planes of said side-walls, a circuit controlling element mounted within said casing, an operatm f lever connected to said element and moun v mainly within said casing', said lever havin an extension projecting exteriorlyof sai casing and affording a foot-pieceysaidfoot-l piece being 'disposed mainly at one .sideof I the space between the planes o said side walls of the. casing and over said extension ofthebase. v A

@In testimony whereof, I have signed my name 'to this specification.

Harman. 

